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Author Topic: Do you still use stand-alone ("pocket") calculators?  (Read 24962 times)

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Offline floobydust

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Re: Do you still use stand-alone ("pocket") calculators?
« Reply #50 on: January 12, 2020, 01:07:51 am »
I use spreadsheets now because all my engineering formulas are also stored in them.
Example is the voltage divider equation- I have the four variables isolated and can solve for Vin, Vout, R1 or R2, and calculate resistor power dissipation - all at once.
 

Offline JDubU

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Re: Do you still use stand-alone ("pocket") calculators?
« Reply #51 on: January 12, 2020, 01:08:56 am »
I have an HP-42s that I don't use anymore.  I also have an HP-25 that has not been powered up in many years due to a failed battery that is corroded in place.

On Windows, I use Excalibur that I've always really liked:  https://www.hpcalc.org/details/3650
On my Android phone, I prefer Free42 over RealCalc since it is essentially identical to my HP-42.
 

Offline David Hess

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Re: Do you still use stand-alone ("pocket") calculators?
« Reply #52 on: January 12, 2020, 01:18:23 am »
I regularly use an HP-50g and before that regularly used an HP-48g.  I also have a solar TI-35.

A phone just does not compare in ease of use.  A touch screen does not make up for a good calculator keyboard and the battery life is terrible in comparison.
 

Offline JxR

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Re: Do you still use stand-alone ("pocket") calculators?
« Reply #53 on: January 12, 2020, 01:39:54 am »
I still regularly use my HP 15C.  Very nice layout, feel, and has a fantastic display.  I also use a HP 42s.  I prefer the 42s if I need to work with complex numbers.  I have an HP Prime, which is also a good calculator but I honestly rarely use it.  Obviously I prefer RPN format...

I use Free42 (42s emulator) on my phone if out and about.  PCalc "42" is also an excellent phone calculator that you can use RPN on.
 

Offline SolarMan

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Re: Do you still use stand-alone ("pocket") calculators?
« Reply #54 on: January 12, 2020, 01:53:37 am »
Yes absolutely!  Even when I'm sitting in front of my computer and have a smartphone in my pocket I still prefer to use a physical calculator.   I often find myself punching numbers into my calculator while doing reseach on my computer
 

Offline tycz

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Re: Do you still use stand-alone ("pocket") calculators?
« Reply #55 on: January 12, 2020, 02:48:19 am »
For engineering calcs I use a pocket calculator - a fairly ordinary Sharp EL-531WH. It has all the features I need and the interface is excellent. I find it easy to go back and make changes to a previous calculation because it has arrow keys, auto repeat, home/end. There's no history, but there are 8 memory slots which gets the job done.

For (usually low level) programming calcs I find the pocket calculator useless and instead use the program Speed Crunch which has infinite history and copy/paste features. It was the only calculator program I could find that let me switch the output between hex, binary, decimal, and decimal engineering notation on the fly. I also use it for engineering when I've misplaced my pocket calculator, but I don't like it that much. Maybe it's part habit and part ergonomics... engineering calcs are full of symbols and parenthesis, and this isn't great to type on a PC keyboard which requires two hands and lots of key chords on my keyboard with no numpad.
« Last Edit: January 12, 2020, 02:49:52 am by tycz »
 
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Offline Mr Evil

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Re: Do you still use stand-alone ("pocket") calculators?
« Reply #56 on: January 12, 2020, 12:30:21 pm »
The interesting thing all in all I noticed in this thread is that most people still using a pocket calculator are doing this either just from habit, or also because they just don't know (or have bothered) to find decent tools on computer.

I did not reach this conclusion and I am not sure how you would from the replies. I suspect you are projecting your preferences and views in the conclusion which is fine when stating your position but I don't think when read objectively that it representative of the the group 'Most'.

Just re-read every post made. Apart from ataradov, I haven't seen one that, when considering computer alternatives to calculators, wasn't only talking either about the basic Windows calc (an ugly joke) or mobile apps, which I also dislike as I stated (especially for the UI thing.) So obviously if your only reference to computer alternatives to calculators are these, I'd fully agree that they can't match a real calculator. But there are much more useful and capable software out there as I cited (and ataradov), and I haven't seen anyone talk about them apart from him. So this really looked like indeed "most" people here have this preference out of actually not knowing about better software tools, and I again strongly suggest trying. It's really hard to go back once you have.

As I said, there will certainly always be a personal preference part in this. But just make sure you know all your options, that was my point.
I can only speak for myself, but this isn't true. Since this was a topic about pocket calculators, I posted about the software related to that. That doesn't mean that I don't know about or use other software. I use everything from Windows Calc up to writing my own software for specialized tasks.

Offline stefan_trekkie

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Re: Do you still use stand-alone ("pocket") calculators?
« Reply #57 on: January 12, 2020, 12:59:44 pm »
I still use my Citizen SR-170 scientific calculator with the original photo cell on it. It was present from my grandma when become EE student ~13-sh years ago. Love it, it was 30€ and back then was a lot poorer and treated as fortune.
I have calculator app on my smarty and it is almost the same and use it on the fly.. On my computer i don't using calc app (or programs) just because i work slowly on them. For some fast electrical calculations I have calculators in the drowning programs that using.

 

Offline ogden

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Re: Do you still use stand-alone ("pocket") calculators?
« Reply #58 on: January 12, 2020, 01:10:52 pm »
There is no single "best" calculator. People have different tasks, different preferences & habits. I use mostly Casio scientific calc. Sometimes I need Excel or Google sheets, https://www.wolframalpha.com/ or GNU Octave. Thanx to this thread, I will definitely check Speed Crunch, thou it may reduce my woframalpha use, not Casio ;)
 

Offline iMo

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Re: Do you still use stand-alone ("pocket") calculators?
« Reply #59 on: January 12, 2020, 02:06:18 pm »
Speed Crunch - nice! Calculator forensic test (in degree mode):
Code: [Select]
arcsin(arccos(arctan(tan(cos(sin(9))))))
= 9.00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000e0

Here is PC-1251, HP-25, HP-48GX, WP-34s - not using them except charging NiMH batt in HP-25 (replaced in 2000) every 3-4y or so. Using Anitech SC-100 ("scientific and programmable", purchased new in 1991 for 4.99DEM), original batteries (2x LR-44) lasted for 28 years without leaking, btw..
« Last Edit: January 12, 2020, 02:15:51 pm by imo »
Readers discretion is advised..
 

Offline david77

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Re: Do you still use stand-alone ("pocket") calculators?
« Reply #60 on: January 13, 2020, 10:11:47 am »
I use a pocket calculator whenever I have one in easy reach. I still have the TI-59 on my bench at home and at work I usually use the cheap Toshiba LC-825 I fished from the dumpster and got working again or calc.exe. When neither a PC or a calculator are available I use the TI-59 app on my phone. It's quite close to the original.
 

Offline tszaboo

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Re: Do you still use stand-alone ("pocket") calculators?
« Reply #61 on: January 13, 2020, 12:19:56 pm »
I have a Sharp EL520W on my desk at work. It is mainly to add/multiply stuff together. If I need anything more, I typically take Excel or Tina. But recently I've been playing around with jupyter notebook, and honestly, I think it will replace half the stuff that I'm doing in Excel.
 

Offline tom66

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Re: Do you still use stand-alone ("pocket") calculators?
« Reply #62 on: January 13, 2020, 12:23:32 pm »
Yes.  Casio FX-83GT, inexpensive and handy for quick calculations. Not found a phone or computer application as good as a handheld scientific calculator.
« Last Edit: January 13, 2020, 01:27:17 pm by tom66 »
 

Offline GromBeestje

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Re: Do you still use stand-alone ("pocket") calculators?
« Reply #63 on: January 13, 2020, 06:11:49 pm »
I've got a Casio fx-82 solar right here on my desk.
 

Offline TimNJ

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Re: Do you still use stand-alone ("pocket") calculators?
« Reply #64 on: January 13, 2020, 07:04:10 pm »
For those of you with iOS devices.

http://www.archimedescalculator.com/
 

Offline Someone

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Re: Do you still use stand-alone ("pocket") calculators?
« Reply #65 on: January 13, 2020, 11:08:08 pm »
The usual extreme evangelism usually reserved for operating systems.

Important requirement number 1 for me: enters and displays results in engineering units. But even thats not essential.

There is no single tool for everything, being open minded and using the appropriate tool for the task to hand is far better....

Why no RPN spreadsheets?
 

Offline ferdieCX

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Re: Do you still use stand-alone ("pocket") calculators?
« Reply #66 on: January 13, 2020, 11:28:31 pm »
I use regularly a Casio fx-991ES
 

Offline KL27x

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Re: Do you still use stand-alone ("pocket") calculators?
« Reply #67 on: January 14, 2020, 12:10:34 am »
This thread made me check on availability of my current fav. And damnit, they don't make my model, anymore. The new Casio 115 is slightly different, using the oval buttons and screen and sliding cover of the 991, which I also have. The screen is an bigger and has more resolution for displaying weird stuff (but the contrast is not as nice; the old 115, the background is perfectly clear; you can see the background partially darnkened as soon as you turn on the 991). The other two things, not so much, IMO. The oval buttons don't stay aligned and will sit crooked. And the cover is not as easy to use as the old snap on/off cover.  :'(
« Last Edit: January 14, 2020, 12:16:34 am by KL27x »
 

Offline ogden

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Re: Do you still use stand-alone ("pocket") calculators?
« Reply #68 on: January 14, 2020, 05:34:02 am »
The new Casio 115 is slightly different, using the oval buttons and screen and sliding cover of the 991, which I also have.
Do you find any of those few extra functions in 115 useful? For those who are not familiar, brief intro of Casio 991EX by Dave.
« Last Edit: January 14, 2020, 05:36:06 am by ogden »
 

Offline KL27x

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Re: Do you still use stand-alone ("pocket") calculators?
« Reply #69 on: January 14, 2020, 07:18:28 am »
^Honestly, I don't use a lot of extra functions, but I'm pretty sure the 991's do nearly if not everything the 115's can, plus a lot more.

There's just a few things that I had gotten used to, I think. The ergos. And the way in base (dec/hec/bin/oct) mode, my 991 fills all the spaces to the left with zeroes, for god only knows. Especially with binary, it means you sometimes have to scan a few extra spots to the left to make sure you are reading the entire number. It's better left blank, IMO, the way my 115 does it. 
 
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Offline spudboy488

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Re: Do you still use stand-alone ("pocket") calculators?
« Reply #70 on: January 14, 2020, 12:30:54 pm »
I still use a HP-11C purchased new in 1985.
 

Offline Berni

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Re: Do you still use stand-alone ("pocket") calculators?
« Reply #71 on: January 14, 2020, 03:24:25 pm »
Used to use some random TI scientific calculator, then also a TI Nspire CAS in uni. Now i just use SpeedCrunch on a PC.

The PC keyboard numpad is nicer to type on that calculator keys while i can do everything that a scientific calculator can. But SpeedCalc also gives me a history in the same window that i can just look up at rather than having to scroll trough and it keeps calculating the result as you type, so its easy to jump back and change just one number in a long math expression and watch the result change live. It also takes hex numbers by simply typing 0xABCD.

I don't see the benefit of having a physical calculator next to a PC. What does it do better? (Compared to SpeedCrunch that is, Windows Calc.exe is shit)
 

Offline KL27x

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Re: Do you still use stand-alone ("pocket") calculators?
« Reply #72 on: January 14, 2020, 08:17:11 pm »
Quote
I don't see the benefit of having a physical calculator next to a PC. What does it do better? (Compared to SpeedCrunch that is, Windows Calc.exe is shit)

You might be using your computer for some combination of IDE, a datasheet PDF, PCB CAD, Youtube and Netflix, PC logic analyzer and/or scope, and emails and browser. How many monitors do you run, already, and how much of that extra monitor space did you allot to use just for a calculator?

To me the calculator is part of my bench. The computer is the most important tool on that bench, but I have others on hand what help me work.
« Last Edit: January 14, 2020, 08:28:57 pm by KL27x »
 

Offline Berni

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Re: Do you still use stand-alone ("pocket") calculators?
« Reply #73 on: January 14, 2020, 09:35:45 pm »
Quote
I don't see the benefit of having a physical calculator next to a PC. What does it do better? (Compared to SpeedCrunch that is, Windows Calc.exe is shit)

You might be using your computer for some combination of IDE, a datasheet PDF, PCB CAD, Youtube and Netflix, PC logic analyzer and/or scope, and emails and browser. How many monitors do you run, already, and how much of that extra monitor space did you allot to use just for a calculator?

To me the calculator is part of my bench. The computer is the most important tool on that bench, but I have others on hand what help me work.

I have been using two 1080p monitors for a really long time now (Both home and at work). I find it being enough space for me, occasionally a third monitor might come handy, but Win7 being able to tile a window across half of a screen with the Win+Arrow shortcut makes it easier to multipurpose one screen. I usualy have one maximized window of my main task on the main monitor and all the other things like documentation on the side.

Something like SpeedCalc wouldn't be always open in a dedicated area of the screen for me, there is no significant benefit to that. To be able to type into its window you need to click it in order to make give that window focus, but in Win7 you can click a pinned icon of SpeedCalc, this will launch it if not running or bring it to foreground if it is running, ending up with that window in focus so you can start typing. When you don't need it anymore simply one more click to bring the window behind it in front, or click the taskbar icon once again to minimize the calculator.

Id say its all mostly just a matter of habit. People are just used to doing things a certain way. Where i work right now pretty much nobody keeps a calculator on the desk, but then again the people that work here are not old graybeards.
 

Offline ogden

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Re: Do you still use stand-alone ("pocket") calculators?
« Reply #74 on: January 14, 2020, 10:25:44 pm »
Where i work right now pretty much nobody keeps a calculator on the desk, but then again the people that work here are not old graybeards.
Indeed it is habit and generation-related. If I see that there is no paper and pencil on the desk (of millenial), I do not look for calculator or ruler either. (no pun intended)

I tend to use best tool for the job, use best I can learn from last and current century approaches. I have both Casio fx-991es and convenient/quick shortcut to windows calculator SpeedCrunch in the right corner of windows popup menu.
« Last Edit: January 14, 2020, 10:29:36 pm by ogden »
 


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